Latest News From EPA

John Phipps says he was aware that the West and especially the southern Plains had high average wind speeds, he didn't realize the Midwest was also a good place to site wind turbines, especially the newer, larger ones.

Infuriating price increases are the topic of the day, and but like the 80’s, rising inflation is driven largely by energy and the price of oil. It's now less about the supply of oil, and more about refining capacity.

“Capping carbon dioxide emissions at a level that will force a nationwide transition away from the use of coal to generate electricity may be a sensible solution to the crisis of the day,” says Chief Justice Roberts.

NCGA sees the new labeling requirements as a way to “impose arduous new restrictions and mitigation measures on the herbicide, limiting how much of the product farmers use.”

With drivers searching for the cheapest gas price possible, gasoline with higher blends of ethanol is seeing an uptick in demand as E85 is currently priced 30% to 40% less than E10.

EPA hosted its fifth WOTUS roundtable last week with the Kansas Livestock Association, revealing murky waters in the WOTUS definition.

The White House is considering waiving U.S. gasoline environmental rules aimed at reducing summertime smog, hoping the waiver will combat rising pump prices, Reuters reported.

“This flawed system isn’t due to rains or weather. Unless we have remedial practices and advocate for cover crops, buffer strips and diversity, we can’t solve the problem," says Former USDA Soil Scientist Thicke.

EPA Administrator Michael Regan hints at a major uptick in renewable fuel blending obligations to be announced on June 3rd, as ethanol production is stunted by railway inefficiencies.

The recent action means Enlist One and Enlist Duo can now be used in all counties of Arkansas, Kansas, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, Ohio, Oklahoma, and South Dakota.

In 2021, the agency reported it received 3,500 dicamba-related incident reports, including approximately 711 incidents in Minnesota and 528 incidents in Iowa.

Oil prices soared to their highest since 2008 due to delays of Iranian nuclear talks and the potential return of Iranian crude to global markets, which are already suffering from Russian supply disruptions.

A new Reuters report indicates the White House is exploring a solution that would remove Renewable Fuels Standard (RFS) blending requirements for ethanol to help soften increasing food prices. 

The EPA says prior to Jan. 11, 2022, the agency “did not consistently assess the potential effects of conventional pesticides on listed species when registering new active ingredients.”

As airlines jet out to reduce their carbon footprint, renewable diesel and sustainable aviation fuel are taking flight. And analysts say it could be a demand boon for U.S. farmers.

The EPA and U.S. Army Corps of Engineers are seeking comment on the pre-2015 WOTUS rule published in the Federal Register.

The White House announced Tuesday it's tapping into oil reserves in an effort to help relieve the rising prices at the pump. But could the decision drive oil prices higher and impact corn prices? Analysts weigh in.

Build Back Better heads to the Senate while Conservation Credit Corporation allocates $27 billion to conservation. Plus, when will the EPA announce RFS mandates?

EPA released an environmental impact evaluation of commonly used herbicides such as glyphosate and atrazine. The report released Nov. 12 has several ag groups frustrated, even questioning "the science" EPA used. 

Pro Farmer's Jim Wiesemeyer reports EPA Administrator Michael Regan says the biofuels blending requirements won't favor oil or agriculture, comments that lead to more chatter a RFS announcement may finally be coming.

The $1.2T infrastructure bill passed through the House following months of negotiation. Farm country can expect $550 billion in new spending. AgriTalk’s Chip Flory and Pro Farmer’s Jim Wiesemeyer take a closer look.

On Wednesday, Reuters reported EPA is mulling cuts to biofuel blending levels, calling it a win for big oil. Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack and Iowa Sen. Charles Grassley commented on the RFS rumors on AgriTalk.

Reports last week claimed EPA was prepared to suggest lowering the renewable fuel volume requirements below 2020 levels. Monday, biofuels groups provided some clarity on what are the facts of the issue today.

The EPA is expected to recommend to the White House lowering the nation's biofuel blending mandates below 2020 levels, in what would be a blow to the biofuels industry, two sources familiar with the matter said Friday.

EPA is banning the use on food crops of the pesticide chlorpyrifos. The decision is a victory for environmental activists who have fought to stop the use of the chemical that is applied to row and produce crops. 

Biofuels groups are asking for a rehearing on a recent appeals court decision that blocked the sale of E15 year-round. The approval of E15 sales during the summer driving season was made by the Trump Administration.

Solar could supply more than 40% of the nation's electricity by 2035 if Congress adopts policies like tax credits for renewable energy projects and component factories, according to a memo by the Department of Energy.

Biden signed an executive order to create a zero-emissions auto fleet by boosting the sale of electric vehicles. The plan also updated emissions standards for light cars and trucks but made no mention of ethanol.

President Biden will sign an executive order on Thursday aimed at making half of all new vehicles sold in 2030 zero-emissions vehicles and will propose new vehicle-emission rules to cut pollution through 2026.

EPA announced it's creating a durable definition of WOTUS by reverting back to the pre-Obama era rule as a framework. EPA is encouraging farmers and ranchers to weigh in during a series of public meetings in August.

“I like to say you’re going to have to have a permit to do normal farming decisions,” he told Chip Flory, host of AgriTalk.

The EPA and Department of the Army announced a plan on Wednesday to initiate a new rulemaking process to restore the protections that were in place prior to the 2015 WOTUS implementation.

A report issued on Monday describes at least three ways EPA stumbled in its policies and practices.

EPA's biofuel blending mandates for 2021 and 2022 are likely to be in line with those of 2020 as the agency accounts for weaker fuel demand since the onset of the pandemic, three sources familiar with the matter said.

Administrator Regan said extreme and unusual fuel supply circumstances exist. The decision will address gasoline needs in affected areas, a positive for agriculture and the biofuels industry.

More than a year after the 10th Circuit Court issued its ruling on the small-refinery provisions within the RFS, EPA announced it’s supporting the ruling, which will put tighter restrictions on issuing such waivers.

As part of the deal, the company would pay up to $2 billion to support claims and programs covered by the plan.

President Joe Biden on Wednesday signed a raft of executive actions to combat climate change, including pausing new oil and gas leases on federal land and cutting fossil fuel subsidies.

On the eve of his nomination as EPA Administrator, Michael Regan placed an unscheduled call to the CEO of the National Corn Growers Association.

When launching this program, EPA Administrator Andrew Wheeler said these challenges intend to spark innovations that will keep fertilizers (focusing on nitrogen and phosphorus) where they are needed.  

The new rule will be implemented on Monday.

The EPA faces a deadline today when it comes to Dicamba. The Ninth U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals wants to know by today why the agency is allowing continued over-the-top use of Dicamba on soybeans and cotton.

The impact of neonicotinoids on pollinators is a prime focus for the additional risk mitigation when using these products.

The troubled 2015 WOTUS rule introduced by the Obama administration in 2015 to define which waters are regulated by the Clean Water Act was officially replaced today by the Navigable Waters Protection Rule 

What are farmers to make of the recent announcement about biofuels, and is a trade deal with China just talk?

On May 8, 2019, California Gov. Gavin Newsom announced that his administration planned to ban chlorpyrifos.

Amid increasing tariffs and controversial biofuels policies, farmer support for President Donald Trump is waning.

In response to legal action, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is cancelling registrations for 12 pesticides containing neonicotinoid.

EPA says it has surveyed Superfund sites in flooded areas of Nebraska, Iowa and Missouri.

Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue said EPA Acting Administrator Andrew Wheeler assured him the rules would be complete by the “driving season.”